World Report

Restoration of the medieval fortress is set to boost the tourism industry in Ferrara

Castello Estense is being returned to its former glory by a world famous architect

he wide beaches of the Adriatic coast, and the woods and lagoons of the Po Delta Park, a paradise for bird-watchers, make the Province of Ferrara a highly attractive destination for tourists.
What gives the province its unique appeal, however, is its history. An intellectual and artistic centre of Renaissance Italy, the city of Ferrara is a fine example of an Italian city state.

From the 13th to the 16th century, Ferrara was ruled by the powerful Este family, who made their court a byword for learning, literature and the arts and left the landscape dotted with their ducal residences.
Their most notable legacy, however, is the Este castle, a magnificent military fortress begun in 1385 and partially rebuilt in 1554. Located in the centre of the city, its restoration, currently under way, symbolizes the future of Ferrara Province as well as its past.

The task of restoring the moated, four-towered castle is taking place under the direction of world famous architect Gae Aulenti, noted for having designed important museum centres such as the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, the Museé d’Orsay in Paris and the Contemporary Art Gallery at the Pompidou Centre.

Completion of the project, expected by the end of this year, is eagerly awaited by the local population. “The people of Ferrara have been waiting for this moment,” says President of the province Pier Giorgio Dall’Acqua. “We have named the project the ‘Castle for the City’. It represents all that we want to achieve in the province.”
The importance of Castello Estensi is more than that of an interesting local landmark. The authorities see it as a starting point from which tourists can be encouraged to go on to discover the wide variety of attractions the rest of the province and the region have to offer.

PIER GIORGIO DALL'ACQUA
President of the Province of Ferrara

‘We believe the traditional tourist circuit is going to change’

“We believe that the traditional tourist circuit – Rome, Florence, Venice – is going to change,” says Mr Dall’Acqua. “Why not also Ravenna, Ferrara, Mantova, Verona? We are trying to construct this new circuit. In 2006, we want to launch a package of cities which are very attractive to tourists.

“For many years, tourism was considered as just beach holidays, not as an economic activity. Now we know that the spin-offs are enormous, even greater than some other economic sectors.”